On December 25, 2024, President Joe Biden signed a new law aimed at preventing hazing on college campuses. This law, called the Stop Campus Hazing Act, is the first federal law focused on hazing and requires colleges to report hazing incidents and provide training to prevent them.
Hazing is defined in the law as any harmful or degrading act done to a student as part of joining a group, even if the student agrees to it. This includes activities in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other campus organizations that receive federal funding.
The law requires colleges to offer programs that teach students about hazing prevention. Schools must also publicly report hazing incidents and share the results of investigations.
This new law is especially important to families who have lost children due to hazing, like Julie and Gary DeVercelly. Their son, Gary Jr., died in 2007 after being forced to drink a large amount of vodka during a hazing event. They, along with other families like the Piazzas, have been pushing for stronger laws to stop hazing. The Piazzas’ son, Tim, died in 2017 after a hazing ritual involving excessive drinking caused him serious injuries. The Piazzas have since spoken out at schools across the country.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act has received support from both political parties. It passed in the House of Representatives in September and the Senate earlier in December.